New Delhi: Italian luxury brand Prada has launched a limited-edition line of sandals inspired by India’s traditional Kolhapuri sandals. Priced at €750 a pair, these sandals have been manufactured in India by artisans from the states of Maharashtra and Karnataka. The move follows a year after the company faced criticism regarding cultural appropriation over Indian Kolhapuri sandals without acknowledgement. 

The latest collection is being sold across 40 Prada stores worldwide and online, with each pair handmade by artisans from the Indian states of Maharashtra and Karnataka, places where the specific region of such sandals has traditionally been made. 

The brand said the new line “combines traditional techniques with contemporary design and premium materials”, creating what it described as “a dialogue between Indian heritage and modern luxury expression”. Prada also announced a three-year training programme for artisans from eight Indian districts associated with making Kolhapuri sandals.

The programme, developed in collaboration with two Indian design institutes, will reportedly train 180 artisans in six-month modules. On the endeavour, Tanu Kashyap, director general of National Institute of Fashion Technology, one of the collaborating institutions in India, said that this would also help promote traditional Indian crafts in global markets.

Luxury fashion house Prada faced significant backlash in 2025 after showcasing sandals in its Spring/Summer menswear collection that closely resembled traditional Kolhapuri chappals without initially acknowledging their Indian origins.

The matter blew up online, with a swath of critics from diverse fields calling out the luxury brand, accusing it of cultural appropriation and “cashing in” on a centuries-old craft that holds geographical indication (GI) status. The controversy sparked wider debate about the exploitation of indigenous craftsmanship by global luxury labels and lack of credit and compensation for artisan communities. Facing mounting outrage, Prada later acknowledged the Indian inspiration and began engaging with local artisan groups, the new line being a result of such an initiative.